Family remembers Ryan Chastain with tournament

By MOLLY MCGOWANTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 4, 2014 at 3:45 p.m.

Ryan Chastain's wife and family members are still grieving the 34-year-old's sudden death in September, but they're also continuing his vision of helping students afford tutoring services. Next year, they will help send one 2015 Hendersonville High graduate to college.

Ryan Chastain and his nephew, Cohen, after an adult men's league baseball game.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation has donated upward of $2,000 in tutoring scholarships to a student at the Sylvan Learning Center in Garner, where Chastain served as director for two years prior to his death.

On Saturday, the foundation is holding a Corn Hole Tournament at Cool Beans Coffee, Custard & More, to raise money for a scholarship that will benefit a HHS student athlete graduating in 2015. Proceeds from the team registration fees — $25 for teams who preregister and $30 the day of the event — will go toward the scholarship fund, as well as 20 percent of Cool Beans' sales on Saturday.

“We started the foundation initially to support the Sylvan Learning Center where Ryan worked,” said Amanda Chastain, Ryan Chastain's widow, who now lives in Greenville, S.C.

She said her husband had always tried to find ways to get families approved for financing when the tutoring at Sylvan proved too expensive.

“He really always had a passion for children that needed help with their education,” said Jack Chastain, Ryan Chastain's father.

“He just loved working with kids and trying to help families,” Amanda Chastain said.

She said the foundation managed to raise $2,000 to support a Sylvan student last year, $800 for a traveling faith-based basketball team called Carolina Crossover, and this year the family wanted to “mix in his love of the Bearcats and sports.”

Ryan Chastain grew up in Hendersonville, was a 1998 graduate of Hendersonville High and pitched for coach Gary Rivers, Jack Chastain said.

“For two years straight, he led (the Bearcats) really close to the state championships,” Jack Chastain said.

He said his son had always been active, and eventually received a full baseball scholarship to Lenoir-Rhyne University.

“I got to coach him for eight years,” Jack Chastain said. “Those were some of the best years of my life.”

Ryan and Amanda Chastain were married 11 months before he died unexpectedly, after visiting the doctor for a strep throat, Jack Chastain said.

“Believe it or not, they have not completed the finalization of the autopsy report,” he said. “It's been a difficult 10 months.”

Family members — many of whom also attended Hendersonville High — will rally Saturday to support Ryan Chastain's legacy, get the community involved in helping a student athlete attend college, and enjoy some friendly cornhole competition.

The cornhole tournament's winners will receive $75 each ($150 to the winning team), and each member participating in the tournament will be registered to win a set of cornhole boards.

Amanda Chastain said Hendersonville High's principal, Bobby Wilkins, will inform his students about the Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation scholarship opportunity, and school counselors will join the Chastain family in choosing the winning essay by the end of the 2014-15 school year.

“We're just going to see what's raised,” she said, though Amanda Chastain hopes the event raises at least $1,000. She said she wants to see the Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation continue to help children with their educations, and keep that connection with her husband.

Teams of two can register early at www.GoFundMe.com/RCMemorial, or mail a check for $25 with team name to P.O. Box 1666 Hendersonville, NC 28793. Same-day registration for the tournament is $30. Check out the “Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation” page on Facebook for updates.

<p>Ryan Chastain's wife and family members are still grieving the 34-year-old's sudden death in September, but they're also continuing his vision of helping students afford tutoring services. Next year, they will help send one 2015 Hendersonville High graduate to college.</p><p>The Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation has donated upward of $2,000 in tutoring scholarships to a student at the Sylvan Learning Center in Garner, where Chastain served as director for two years prior to his death.</p><p>On Saturday, the foundation is holding a Corn Hole Tournament at Cool Beans Coffee, Custard & More, to raise money for a scholarship that will benefit a HHS student athlete graduating in 2015. Proceeds from the team registration fees — $25 for teams who preregister and $30 the day of the event — will go toward the scholarship fund, as well as 20 percent of Cool Beans' sales on Saturday.</p><p>“We started the foundation initially to support the Sylvan Learning Center where Ryan worked,” said Amanda Chastain, Ryan Chastain's widow, who now lives in Greenville, S.C.</p><p>She said her husband had always tried to find ways to get families approved for financing when the tutoring at Sylvan proved too expensive. </p><p>“He really always had a passion for children that needed help with their education,” said Jack Chastain, Ryan Chastain's father. </p><p>“He just loved working with kids and trying to help families,” Amanda Chastain said.</p><p>She said the foundation managed to raise $2,000 to support a Sylvan student last year, $800 for a traveling faith-based basketball team called Carolina Crossover, and this year the family wanted to “mix in his love of the Bearcats and sports.”</p><p>Ryan Chastain grew up in Hendersonville, was a 1998 graduate of Hendersonville High and pitched for coach Gary Rivers, Jack Chastain said. </p><p>“For two years straight, he led (the Bearcats) really close to the state championships,” Jack Chastain said. </p><p>He said his son had always been active, and eventually received a full baseball scholarship to Lenoir-Rhyne University.</p><p>“I got to coach him for eight years,” Jack Chastain said. “Those were some of the best years of my life.”</p><p>Ryan and Amanda Chastain were married 11 months before he died unexpectedly, after visiting the doctor for a strep throat, Jack Chastain said.</p><p>“Believe it or not, they have not completed the finalization of the autopsy report,” he said. “It's been a difficult 10 months.”</p><p>Family members — many of whom also attended Hendersonville High — will rally Saturday to support Ryan Chastain's legacy, get the community involved in helping a student athlete attend college, and enjoy some friendly cornhole competition.</p><p>The cornhole tournament's winners will receive $75 each ($150 to the winning team), and each member participating in the tournament will be registered to win a set of cornhole boards. </p><p>Amanda Chastain said Hendersonville High's principal, Bobby Wilkins, will inform his students about the Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation scholarship opportunity, and school counselors will join the Chastain family in choosing the winning essay by the end of the 2014-15 school year.</p><p>“We're just going to see what's raised,” she said, though Amanda Chastain hopes the event raises at least $1,000. She said she wants to see the Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation continue to help children with their educations, and keep that connection with her husband.</p><p>“I'll always want to be involved in it,” she said.</p><p>The tournament begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cool Beans, 1197 Greenville Highway, Suite 12, in Hendersonville. Inflatable games, face painting and music will begin at 1 p.m.</p><p>Teams of two can register early at www.GoFundMe.com/RCMemorial, or mail a check for $25 with team name to P.O. Box 1666 Hendersonville, NC 28793. Same-day registration for the tournament is $30. Check out the “Ryan Chastain Memorial Foundation” page on Facebook for updates.</p><p>___</p><p>Reach McGowan at molly.mcgowan@BlueRidgeNow.comor 828-694-7871.</p><p>___</p><p>Follow Molly McGowan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TNmollymcgowan</p>